Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot

<p>The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it</p><p>Crucial to the government’s war on nature is the “cauldron principle”. If a species is to be blamed for “holding up development”, it must be one you might find in a witch’s cauldron. The culprits are never dormice, otters, water voles, nightingales, turtle doves or orchids, widely considered cute or beautiful. They are bats, newts, snails and spiders.</p><p>Bats and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/10/is-boris-johnson-right-to-blame-newts-for-slowing-britains-recovery-aoe">newts have been blamed</a> by <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-clears-path-to-get-britain-building">successive governments</a> for nastily “standing in the way” of growth. In March, Keir Starmer claimed that “<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ge02r6jg6o">jumping spiders</a>” had stopped “an entire new town”. He added: “I’ve not made that example up.” I think you can guess what comes next.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/16/labour-england-nature-housing-planning-bill">Continue reading...</a>